mercredi, mars 04, 2015

Itron corporate partners in 2010 for industrial Internet, called Internet of Things

By Mario Dufour

OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE

Quebec's main power utility, Hydro-Quebec
(H.Q.), presents
itself as the mastermind behind
its meshed WiFi system
of so-called smart meters,
for which the state-owned corporation
would have contracted
Accenture
consulting firm
for advice in the brilliant plot
of theirs.

What is
obvious after analysis is that Accenture leads the project, for which the firm
gets paid handsomely by its subcontractor (H.Q.), making the regional
deployment of its "automated meter reading--advanced metering
infrastructure" in compatibility with computer technology of the
consortium to which it belongs, the Cisco Smart-Grid Ecosystem.
It is a sophisticated ploy illustrated by the phrase "have your cake and
eat it too." A gem of self-financing and
greed.

Consortium of Cisco Smart-Grid Ecosystem

The trick is repeated at each location where the company goes under the lead of the future
visionary planners of the consortium. Accenture is active in 59 countries and as we have mentioned in the article
Smart Meters And Wolves Sheep Pen, the goal is the creation of an industrial internet and the
mesh of all communications
of information on energy grids and services in all countries is an essential part of it.

In this light, it is
essential to read
between the lines
when Hydro-Quebec justifies its adoption of this technology by
"the possibility of
technological evolution
may be possible to offer new services to customers and to implement
management measures
network." A half-truth and looking at the chart above, we can understand
the insured failure that faced all suppliers who were not part of the
club and who participated in
the tender. The dice were loaded.

WHO ARE THE FISHES?

In the December 7, 2012, H.Q. application R-3788-2012 for
electricity service
conditions, Quebec energy regulator, Regie de l'energie, has allowed changes that are similar
to those applied across all North America and around the world where rampant Accenture and other radiofrequencies-based
"smart grids" greedy promoters are at large.

For example, the opt-out option with
fees and monthly
punishment payment are always
part of the deal. Changes in conditions of services also. As I might repeat myself,
opt-out
options constant changes in conditions of services are a new corporate
trend with morality similar to pyramid schemes. These are serfdom tools
for Facebook and other Google in their search for
hegemony and profits.

In their cases,
if we do not like it, we stop to use their junk
and the problem is solved. But,
we
are dealing here with a state-owned
energy-distribution company. The citizen
is
a
shareholder of H.Q. and is also its
captive customer. So, he has just been duped,
since those conditions were not present in
previous versions and he is left with only one choice; bend
to the
new conditions. Emigrate? But to where?

This
monstrous industrial project consists of enclosing all populations
of
all countries in the meshes of their radiofrequency-based information-gathering
net, that they have the guts to call ecosystem.
Toxic.

So toxic, that the World Health Organization (WHO)/International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared that radiofrequencies are possibly carcinogenic,
despite the tremendous pressure from the industry.
Which should already command the utmost caution.

Yet,
in
application D-2012-127, R-3770-2011, 2012 10 05
we read "new generation meters
that
plans
to install the Distributor have the advantage and
ability to communicate with each other if they cannot
communicate
directly with a router due to topographic or other obstacles. This way, the meters form a dynamic mesh
network that enables the relay of
information at all times, regardless of topography. "

While logic
would
dictate a search to reduce exposure to radiofrequencies
and the
application of the precautionary principle, the net
is
thrown across the territory.

When was the time to discuss health issues, the regulator Richard
Lassonde at the administrative tribunal of Regie de l'energie dismissed as biased the
testimony and report of David O.
Carpenter, a
public-health physician who is, by the way, Director of the Institute
for Health and the Environment, a Collaborating Center of the
World Health Organization and renown worldwide for his expertise on radiofrequencies
health issues. Instead, he concluded on the baseless opinion of Ministry of Health and Social Services, the directors of public
health and the Agencies of public health and social services, who all
depend on H.Q. revenues, that their gadgets were safe enough.

WHO RULES ANYWAY? WHO HOLDS THE NET
HERE?

This
global deployment and the identity of the prime
contractor is partially revealed in
the text of the decision of the authority regardingR-3770-2011, September 30, 2011,
when
Hydro-Quebec is opposed to the disclosure of the document
entitled "Accenture's AMR-AMI initiatives
markers
in North America" (Chapter 2.2.1
in
the text).

The
distributor submits an affirmation of Mr.
Vito
Calabretta
of Accenture Ltd (sic) expressing that
"disclosure
of
the information contained in Exhibit HQD-1,
Document 2 would likely be a serious detriment
to the economic interests of Accenture, would cause
economic
loss by providing a significant advantage
to its competitors and thus hurt
substantially
to its competitiveness. Disclosure
to
stakeholders of this document will also
not be
permitted, even under strict conditions of confidentiality."

In document
R-3770-2011, October 5, 2012,
Hydro-Quebec
will cites Accenture as if Accenture's judgment
had
the
value of a neutral arbitrator, independent and indisputable.

Here are some excerpts where Accenture evaluates HQ in the advancement of the project: "The Distributor recalls the following
evaluation
of
the project carried out by the firm Accenture,
mandated by the Distributor for the purpose of evaluating
the Project:
-
H.Q.
followed
good
practice and the various returns of
experience;
-
The
possibility of developing additional functionality
has
been taken into account (scalability)." Here a small red light should
have illuminate. The Internet of Things. Not to mention
that
it seems like reading comments on the ballot of a primary school toddler.

In
response to stakeholders who question its
technological choices, "This exercise has demonstrated
that
the firm Accenture has confirmed in
his report that the technology upheld by
the
Distributor follows the trend currently
observed in the market, which positions the mesh-type
radio
frequency technology to the forefront of IMA
projects
in
North America."

This
is indeed a major trend that is imposed by the Cisco
Smart-Grid Ecosystem where Accenture belongs. It is not a coincidence of a pure and free
market.

Elsewhere, "These
findings
are
also supported by the firm Accenture."

About
H.Q. efficiency in the massive deployment, "Accenture
confirms
that
the Distributor is already following all
recommendations and considers that the
implementation of the massive deployment will
be
done as efficiently as possible."

On
the
scalability, "Distributor demanded
its
metering
providers that their technology allows the
implementation of additional features as confirmed by
the
firm Accenture."

About
data
security, HQ says "As for data security and
integrity of systems that generate, communicate or
store,
Distributor recalls that it has made a
fundamental issue and that his calls proposal have
ensured
that the technologies meet the highest
levels
of IT security." But security for whom?

Certainly
not for the subscriber from whom they
collect
metadata without his
knowledge.
About this security, it also
reads: "The firm Lofty Perch confirmed the safety of data processed by the
system and confirmed that the project meets the recommendations of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology." This is not even Canadian. Have we
become a US state without knowing it?

We are screwed the same as anyone everywhere else where members of the Cisco
Smart-Grid Ecosystem arise.

One of the most fabulous example of trickery they use is the calculation of RF
exposure, which is based on an average over time of 50 Î¼W / "-"-m2. But that does not make sense,
because the meters do not transmit continuously but by millisecond pulses every
twenty seconds or so.

It's a
bit like putting your hand on a burning plate a split second and calculating an
average over a minute to determine the heat to which you have been exposed.
When you make a smartmeter reading at one meter of distance, you get 60,000 Î¼W / "-"-m2! An electromagnetic whiplash
at least three times a minute and 24/7.

Do not
count on any adaptive theory to get you out of this hell; living things never
adapted before to whip lashes, bullets nor electromagnetic weapons.

And now you know who holds that whip.

BUT, FROM WHERE DOES
THIS
DUPLICITY
CULTURE
COME FROM?

Accenture, whose
headquarters are located in Ireland, a
tax haven, is present at the New York Stock
Exchange
and is a member of the S & P
500 index. His best performance is in
the
field of "outsourcing", meaning moving
jobs
to
countries where working conditions are terrible.
The
firm is very active in the Philippines and
India.

Employees
leave as soon as they can, when realizing they
were duped in a white-collar bondage akin
to
slavery.

Its
quest for profit knows no bounds;
fraud,
collusion,
theft
of trade secrets, breach of worker rights. Its
incompetence is phenomenal. Its attacks on
democracy are also well documented.

To
give
you an insight in bulk:

PROCEEDINGS

WELLOGIX
VS
ACCENTURE
In
May 2013, a US Appeals Court confirmed a judgment against Accenture
(1) to pay $ 44.4 million to
Wellogix
Inc.
for
stealing their technology and maliciously
misappropriating
its
trade
secrets. Accenture was ordered to pay $ 26.2
million
in compensation for damages 18.2
million
for punitive damages.
(1)
http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/11/11-20816-CV0.wpd.pdf

$64 MILLION SETTLEMENT
The Department of Justice has announced that a $64 million settlement has been
reached in a whistleblower lawsuit filed in Eastern District of Arkansas (1)
against Accenture LLP which alleged the technology service company rigged bids,
inflated prices, and paid kickbacks.
(1) http://www.breakinglawsuitnews.com/doj-accenture-reach-settlement/

BRITISH GAS SUES ACCENTURE (1)
British Gas is suing Accenture for -182m in costs connected to the failure of a
new billing system put in place by the consultants in 2006.
Problems with the system led to a massive increase in complaints against the
gas supplier. Centrica, British Gas's parent company, has already written off
-200m due to problems with the system.
(1) http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/12/accenture_centrica_sue/

CASE NO. 30-2011-00496293-CU-OE-CXC (1)
On August 1, 2011, a former salaried, exempt employee of Accenture Inc.
("Accenture") filed a lawsuit seeking to represent a class of current
and former "exempt" employees of Accenture who worked in California
in any Analyst, and similarly situated positions, from August 1, 2007, to the
present. The lawsuit alleges that Accenture failed to pay its information and
technology ("IT") workers overtime, failed to provide meal periods,
failed to provide rest periods, failed to timely pay wages to employees at the
time of separation from Accenture, failed to provide accurate itemized
statements, and implemented unfair business practices.
(1) http://www.garaylaw.com/Info-regarding-Accenture-case.shtml

THE COMPANY HAD A HAND IN THE NOTORIOUS PURGE OF SUSPECTED FELONS FROM
FLORIDA VOTER LISTS
A circuit court judge ruled on June 2, 2005, (1) that the Elections Board's
director did not have the authority to enter into the agreement with Accenture,
but nevertheless upheld the contract on the grounds that the board
retroactively ratified the contract on January 27, 2005 - more than a month
after the contract was legally challenged.

The selection of Accenture to develop Wisconsin 's voter-registration list is
particularly controversial. The company had a hand in the notorious purge of
suspected felons from Florida voter lists before the 2004 elections. More on
Accenture's role in the Florida felon purge.
(1) http://www.wisdc.org/wdcaccenture.php

INCOMPETENCE

ACCENTURE -- EPITOME OF INCOMPETENCE
(1)

Here is an index of a long list of articles about Accenture's incompetence :

Ontario Welfare - The Canadian Province of Ontario's contract for social
services delivery, essentially privatized welfare during the duration of the
contract (which was to be for 4 years, but has gone over that limit by more
than a year). As of March 2002, Accenture has been paid $246 million (CND) to
do this "overhaul of the Ontario welfare service", even though the
original estimate was $50 - $70 million and the project was eventually capped
at $180 million. At one point, Accenture billed taxpayers $26,000 in
unreceipted out of pocket expenses and Accenture management was paid up to
$575/hour. In 1999, a year after the Auditor General of Ontario put out a
scathing report on the contract, hourly rates paid to Accenture management
actually rose (3%), rather than being cut. After this, the government was
forced to finally renegotiate a cut to Accenture's billing rates. The Ontario
government cut welfare payments to $355.71 per child in poverty and fired
massive numbers of social service workers, making this contract essentially a
transfer from those in need to those in Accenture.

New Brunswick, Canada - Welfare system - cancelled a $60 million contract with
Accenture when project cost estimates ballooned to $144 million. Despite the
cancellation being based on Accenture's failure to uphold the contract terms,
the province had to pay Accenture $2.9 million in a severance package to cancel
this.

Shell Oil - Accenture has been a Shell Oil consultant in Nigeria, where Shell
has been known as a particularly serious environmental and human-rights
violator.

Invested for years in Indonesia. Investment dollars such as these were part of
the billions in investment from multi-national corporations, which helped keep
Suharto's dictatorship alive. This investment helped to keep the Suharto regime
in power, a regime which has brought genocide to the people of East Timor.

Quotes:

Jerri New, President of the Office and Professional Employees Union
Local 378 (which represents employees of BC Hydro and Accenture), making comments
in February 2003 after the BC Hydro/Accenture deal was announced: "This
Privatization is now final, but this is the first chance British Columbians
have had to see any of the details. There has been no chance for public review
of this huge change, as it's all been done in secret until now."

Ontario Auditor General in the 2002 annual report: "In many respects, I
consider the Ministry's involvement with Accenture to have been a very
expensive lesson in how not to implement a new IT-based service-delivery
system.
Said Liberal MLA Gerry Phillips to [then] Community and Social Services
minister Janet Ecker: "If you wanted to have almost an SCTV skit on how
not to engage a consultant, it would be this, Andersen Consulting made you look
like a fool" ["Deal Likened to SCTV Skit" Computing Canada,
November 23, 1998]

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE
ALERT
SOUNDS
OF
POTENTIAL
FRAUD
(1)

On 6
June
2013, the Office of Inspector General of
the United States Postal Service did sound the
alarm of potential fraud, writing in a memo
"This
presents
potential
fraud
alert
management
Risks-associated
with
Accenture
Federal
Services
Contracting
Practices
(Project
Number 12YG038CA001) That Were
compiled
from
prior
US
Postal Service Office of Inspector General audits
and
investigations.
"
(1)
https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2013/sm-ma-13-005.pdf

THE CASE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH
SERVICE IN THE UK(A
PLAUSIBLE SCENARIO IN ANY INSTITUTION NEAR YOU)

We
could go on for days and months to
expose the dishonesty of this company by digging
activities
country
by country, project by project and
area
by area. I will conclude with a case typical
of the unhealthy and immoral philosophy of
Accenture, the medical records management system that
the National Health Service in the UK
has
tried
to implement since 2002 (1).

The
project was launched under the responsibility of
Accenture.
A contract of about $ 4 billion.
The
company has thrown in the towel at the extent
of its
fiasco
in 2006 (2), putting the blame on
its
subcontractor.

They
reneged
on their contract because they were making losses,
about
$ 140 million in profits (3).
Obviously,
their
payments were contingent on success (is
this the case with H.Q.?).

Then,
the
project continued with another consulting firm, along
with a new subcontractor, who took the precaution
to
include a contract
termination
compensation of nearly $ 4 billion. The
system does not work and will cost more
than $ 20 billion at the end of its "useful"
life
in
2017 (1).

Since
2011, thanks to the monumental collapse of
the project they had started and abandoned, having taken the time
to
be forgotten, Accenture has returned to the charge with a
new subcontractor, TPP (4)
and a
biased house survey claiming that the British
were ready to change doctors to
have access to an electronic medical record (5).
The
firm began to canvass Ru's hospital foundations, one
at a time, and is now putting markers in
an attempt to close the installation of its system
in
2017 on the corpse of its previous catastrophe.
When
things will collapse, TPP will receive
the
blame.

It
would have been easier in 2002 for the National
Health Service to access linkedin.com, as does the firm,
hire
a senior IT consultant (and not a fresh
graduates
to pilot the boat, like Accenture did) and
offer a well paid job to develop a strong
electronic
patient
records from open-source existing solutions
(6).

Now, you realize
the
huge financial risks that would mean
leaving
any
institution near you continue with these scams implemented
by
such corporate offender. In the case of Hydro-Quebec, Accenture uses Cisco Ecosystem
partner in crime Capgemini as subcontractor. A company
also
specialized in "outsourcing", probably
chosen
for its propensity to discredit itself,
providing a perfect scapegoat to
be
blamed when the house of cards will come to crumble.

There
is hope. At the time of this writing, three
high administrative figures at H.Q. just jumped out of the boat in a
mysterious
synchronism. The President and CEO, Thierry Vandal, quits two years
before its terms. Simultaneously, the Executive Vice President,
Marie-Josee Nadeau, and the general manager of
the smart-meter program, Georges
Abiad, also jumped out of the luxury ship in "search of new challenges".
Due
to the law of probability, it is no coincidence.

Some might say that it is quantum-mechanic probabilities at its best but,
stuff that smells shows that it is entropy-law related.

Result of Police investigations? Whistlebowers?

Don't bet. There is nothing to win. Except, if you have useful information
and you contact authorities that are not meshed in the network; you might get
your prosperity back.